Muturi threatens to reject money bills originating from the Senate

The sibling rivalry between the two Houses of Parliament is getting more complicated by the day.

In a surprise turn of events just hours after Senate Speaker Ekwe Ethuro told his National Assembly counterpart Justin Muturi to forge a good working relationship and end their differences, the latter cautioned Mr Ethuro against legislating on money bills. Mr Muturi threatened to reject any money bill originating from the Senate, saying it would be a violation of the Constitution.

In his communication in the House yesterday, Muturi warned Senate, saying the assembly would not consider proposed amendments to the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act should it be found to have breached the Constitution.

Muturi made the announcements after he read a statement from the Senate seeking his concurrence on changes to the Act and the National Honours Bill 2014.

“The amendments to the PFM Act should be forwarded to the Budget and Appropriations Committee chaired by Mutava Musyimi for consideration while the National Honours Bill should be committed to the Committee on Administration and National Security chaired by Asman Kamama," he directed.

"If there is a situation where the bill commenced in the wrong way and the Constitution was breached, we cannot consider it,” he said.

Muturi was responding to a statement sought by Majority Leader Aden Duale, who rose on a point of order demanding to know whether  consideration of the PFM Act by the Senate was in accordance with the law.

Section 109 of the Constitution says money bills can only be introduced in the National Assembly.